Charging device



Feb. 12, 1946. H. w. KELLY CHARGING DEVICE Filed Dec. 14, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l H INVENTOR. By M12 WW M M Feb. 12, 1946. H. w. KELLY 2,394,552

CHARGING DEVICE Filed Dec. 141944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

www

Patented Feb. 12, 1946 OFFICE 3 2 ,s94,552 CHARGING DEVICE Herbert W. Kelly, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Meehanite Metal Corporation application December 14, 1944, Serial No. 568,168 3 Claims. (01. 266, 27

My invention relates to apparatus for.convey-' ing material and more particularly to apparatus for charging metallurgical furnaces, cupolas, and

the like.

The present description will be given inconnection with the operation of charging a cupola for the melting of iron or other materials, although the invention is to be understood as also being directed to charging of other metallurgical furnaces and similar devices for processing metal, and to other conveying of material.

In the operation of a cupola, it is usualto charge the cupola with pig iron, ironor steel scrap, coke, 'fluxing material and such other material as may be desired. Thedifferent materials are positioned in appropriate layers in the bottom of the cupola to form the desired bed. Upon combustion of coke and the melting of; the metal, the layers of material progressively sink down in the shaft of thecupola. The melted iron and fluid slag are periodically drawn offf in the usual manner. It is necessary to periodically recharge the cupola with additionalmaterial as the melting and the drawing ofi operation continue.

The apparatus as described may be used to carry a magnetic drop, or cone bottom bucket or any other suitable receptacle, and thereforejis' illustrated in the drawings in its simple outline form.

An object of my invention is the provision of improved apparatus and method for conveying material from one location to another.

Another object of my invention is the provision of improved apparatus to automatically engage a charging. vessel, lift same to the charging door of a metallurgical furnace and place it in position to discharge its contents, and thereafter return the vessel to its original position and disengage therefrom.

Another object of my invention is the provision of improved guide means to automatically guide a metallurgical furnace charging apparatus.

Another object of my invention is the provi-' sion of a worm screw shaft to raise the charging boom of a metallurgical furnace charging apparatus.

Other objects and a fuller understanding ofmy invention may be had by referring to the fol-- lowing descriptionand claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational of a cupola and my improved charging apparatus; a

Figure 2 is a view along the lines 2- -2 of Figure 1 and illustrates an interior view of the cupola, and a top view of the charging apparatus with the motor and gear reduction unit thereon;

The Figure 3 is a sectional view along the lines 33 of Figure 1 with a full top view of the charging boom as it appears when in contact with the guide means just below the line 33; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View of the charg ing apparatus frame along thelines 4 -4 of Fig-, ure 1 and illustrates a full top view of the charging boom as it appears just below the line 4-4, and in full engagement with the charging bucket;

and e Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the charg ing apparatus frame along the lines 5-5 of Figure 1 and illustrates the position of the curved section of the guide member of the frame at this point, with the charging boom in contact therewith and spaced from the charging bucket.

With reference to the Figure l, I illustrate a cupola II] having a charging door I2 inthe upper portions thereof and a charging apparatus illus trated generally by the reference I I which is used to carry a charging bucket I 3 from a loading floor or conveyor I4, place it within the cupola ID at thecharging door- I2, and return it to the loading fio'or l4.

' The charging apparatus I I, may embody many specific structural designs employing the same principle, and is illustrated comprising a worm screw shaft I5 which is rotated about its longitudinal axis by means of a motor I'I geared thereto by means of a gear box I6. A boom I8 is carried by the shaft I5 and is connected thereto by an internally threaded member I9. The member I9 i illustrated as one continuous member; but may be divided into two or more individual members if so desired. The boom l8, which carries the bucket 13, is

guided in its upward and downward path by means of a guide post 20 for the upward path; and a guide post 2| for the downward path. The guide post 20 is provided with a curved section at its uppermost part which is illustrated generally by the reference character 22. This guiding section'is curved to permit the boom torotate rela'-:

tive to the cupola and position the bucket I3 tional support.

for the operation of my improved charging appatending from the charging apparatus II to the cupola I9, and any suitable interconnecting support members such as. the. members -2'I'.-

Although it may. be desirable in some instances.

to maintain the bucket I3 continuously in the support of the boom I8, it is often desirable to,

provide a number of charging buckets I3 which may be loaded at leisure and moved to the charging apparatus I I to be emptied-withinzthe cupola.

I0. Therefore, it is understood that. the curved section 23 of the guide post 2| is optional, al-

though desirable.

In the operation of my improved apparatus it will readily be understood that friction between the interlocking threadmeans I9 and the worm screw shaft I5 will. cause the boom -I8-to rotate about the shaft I5 unless the boom is held from rotation by external-means. Therefore, with the bucket I3 and the boom I8 in the position illustrated in the Figure '5, if the-shaft I5 is caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed-axially fromthe top-thereof, the boom I8 will rotate about the shaft I 5" and come into contact with the bucket I3 as illustrated in the Figure 4. The resistance offered by friction between the loaded bucket I3 and the loading floor or conveyor I5 is great enough to stop the rotation of the boom I8, whereupon relative movement is started between the teeth or-threads of the shaft I5 and the interlocking thread means I9. The boom I8 then begins tovascend axially upward along the shaft I5 until the bucket I3 is lifted clear of the floor I4. When the bucket I3 is lifted clear of the floor I4, the boom I8 is again boom l'awith the bucket I3 thereon then moves progressively upwardly with the boom I8 'posi-* tioned any desirable distance away from the eupola I 0 until the vicinity of the'charging door I2 is reached. The Figure 3 illustrates the 'appearance of the boom I8 in itsascent to the charging door I2. Upon reaching the area 22 of the guide post 20, the boom I8 is permittedto rotate further in a counterclockwise direction and thereby swings the bucket l3 into the interior of the cupola I0 through the charging door I2.

-This position of the bucket and boom is best illustrated in the Figure 2. At this point the contents of the bucket I3 are emptied into the cupola I5."

To return the bucket I3 to its original position and release it from the boom-I8, the shaft is reversed in its rotational direction and-is caused to rotate clockwise, The clockwise rotation, be-

cause of the aforedescribed screw thread friction, tends-to rotate the boom I8 'in a clockwise direction and withdraw the bucket I3 from the charging door I2. However, the boom I8 is in direct contact with the .curved section 22 of the guide post and this curved section also tendsto withdraw the boom I 8 and the bucket I3 from the interior of the cupola ID. This describedclockw'isezrotation of the boom..-I8 continues .untilvthe boom [8 is in contact with the guide post 2I whereafter relative movement is caused between the shaft I5 and the interlocking thread member I 9 and the boom moves axially downwardly relative to the shaft I5. Again, the boom I8 is held in firm contact with the guide post 2I as long as the shaft I5 is rotating in a clockwise direction.

The guide post 2| is so formed and positioned,

that the boom. 18 .will placetthebucket I3 down upon the identical spotfrom. whichiit: was picked up. This position is again illustrated in the Fig- -ure 4. Thereafter, the shaft I5 continues to robegins to descend relative to the bucket I3.

.ther becauseof the curved guide section 23 of the guide post 2 I. This further rotation is continued 'until the -boom-I-8 swings free of the bucket l3.

The. loading floor or conveyor I4 may be so arranged that the empty bucket I3 may be easily moved out of position, :and a;fil1ed bucket. moved into take its place..:, The process as described-is. then repeated again. with they new-charging bucket.

Although I have described .my invention with a certain degree of particularity, itisgunderstood' furnace having a charging'door in an up'perportion thereof through which-a bucket of material is moved, the improvement of carrying meansyfor carrying said bucket from a loading floor, through the said charging door into the interior of the. furnace andireturn, said improvement comprising a substantially vertical worm screwshaft adapted to be rotated-about. its longitudinal axis, power means to rotate the "shaft, aahori-v ,zontally disposed boom adapted to carry said bucket, interlocking threads on said boom to engage said shaft, and. guide means. to :guide said boomand bucket through predetermined arcs of. rotation duringthe carrying period, wher.eby the power means may rotate the shaft and cause the boom to lift the bucket and position same in the furnace to discharge its. contents, andreturn.

2. In a chargingapparatus for a metallurgical furnace having a charging door in an upper; por- 7 tion thereof through which a bucketof: material is moved, the improvement ofucarrying means for carrying said bucket from aloading floor,

through the said charging .door. into the interior, I

of .the furnace and return; .said1 improvement comprising a' substantially-vertical worm screw shaft adapted to be rotated about its longitudinal axis, power means 'to-rotate "the -shaft,- a horizontally disposed boom adapted to'carry' said bucket, 'interlockingthreads on :said boom to-engage said shaft, and-guide 111981115110- uidesald boom and bucket through predetermined arcs of rotation during the carrying. period, screw thread friction between said boom interlocking threads 3. A horizontally disposed boom elevatable and rotatable about a worm screw shaft, said worm screw shaft operatively connected with said boom and tending to swing same horizontally about the shaft and to elevate it, guide means to limit the said swinging and guide the boom relative to said shaft, said guide comprising at least two posts extending generally parallel to said screw and located to arrest the swinging of said boom, curved longitudinal sections on said posts, said swing tendency holding said boom in contact with said guide means, whereby said boom is guided into different radial positions relative said screw by virtue of the curved guide sections as the boom is elevated relative to the said screw.

HERBERT W. KELLY. 

